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gmariereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
krissyronan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Wild and fun adventure story with some serious undertones. Had me looking up some of the mythological origins to learn more.
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review (along with a GIVEAWAY) and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book is absolutely packed with rich storytelling—both African and African American folklore that many middle graders have probably never encountered before. It’s difficult to even unpack how many different stories are rolled into this adventure and brought to life in a new way. (I’d actually love it if Rick Riordan Presents would do a companion that goes deeper into each individual tale, sort of like the Greek Gods companions that were done for the Percy Jackson Series). This book would be perfect to use in a classroom setting because I believe it will inspire kids to want to learn more about the folklore and mythology behind characters like Nyami, Brer Rabbit, John Henry, High John and Gum Baby.
Tristan Strong is just getting over the sting of his first boxing match—and his first defeat. He feels like he’s let the adults in his life (who all have high expectations of him—especially his grandfather) down. But, more than that, he’s trying to pull himself out of the depression and guilt that has surrounded him since his best friend’s death. When he goes to visit his grandparents farm in rural Alabama, the Chicago city-boy feels like a fish out of water. When his best friend’s journal is stolen by Gum Baby and Tristan ends up in a magical land filled with folk heroes, he feels like a fish in the desert!!
This book is beautifully-written, and it’s filled with a fabulous mixture of adventure and heart. Not only does Tristan have to defeat the monsters he’s unleashed on the folkloric world, but he also has to come to terms with his sadness and guilt over the loss of his friend—no small task. The story weaves the folk characters and gods in seamlessly and also brings in themes of slavery without being overly bleak or obvious about it (the symbolism of the villain in the story is beautiful as is the theme of stories that must be told, even when they’re difficult and we’d rather forget them). Once again, I feel like these themes could be explored even more in a classroom setting.
The book is long for a middle grade novel (especially a first book in a series—it seems like often those first books are shorter and then they get thicker as the series progresses), but there’s a lot to pack into this story. And while there is a very slight lull in the book when Tristan first gets to the mysterious folklore land, everything is tied together handily and it all becomes apparent why certain things happened early on in the end!
Magical and filled to the brim with folklore, this first book in the Tristan Strong Series certainly packs a punch!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and FFBC blog tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book is absolutely packed with rich storytelling—both African and African American folklore that many middle graders have probably never encountered before. It’s difficult to even unpack how many different stories are rolled into this adventure and brought to life in a new way. (I’d actually love it if Rick Riordan Presents would do a companion that goes deeper into each individual tale, sort of like the Greek Gods companions that were done for the Percy Jackson Series). This book would be perfect to use in a classroom setting because I believe it will inspire kids to want to learn more about the folklore and mythology behind characters like Nyami, Brer Rabbit, John Henry, High John and Gum Baby.
Tristan Strong is just getting over the sting of his first boxing match—and his first defeat. He feels like he’s let the adults in his life (who all have high expectations of him—especially his grandfather) down. But, more than that, he’s trying to pull himself out of the depression and guilt that has surrounded him since his best friend’s death. When he goes to visit his grandparents farm in rural Alabama, the Chicago city-boy feels like a fish out of water. When his best friend’s journal is stolen by Gum Baby and Tristan ends up in a magical land filled with folk heroes, he feels like a fish in the desert!!
This book is beautifully-written, and it’s filled with a fabulous mixture of adventure and heart. Not only does Tristan have to defeat the monsters he’s unleashed on the folkloric world, but he also has to come to terms with his sadness and guilt over the loss of his friend—no small task. The story weaves the folk characters and gods in seamlessly and also brings in themes of slavery without being overly bleak or obvious about it (the symbolism of the villain in the story is beautiful as is the theme of stories that must be told, even when they’re difficult and we’d rather forget them). Once again, I feel like these themes could be explored even more in a classroom setting.
The book is long for a middle grade novel (especially a first book in a series—it seems like often those first books are shorter and then they get thicker as the series progresses), but there’s a lot to pack into this story. And while there is a very slight lull in the book when Tristan first gets to the mysterious folklore land, everything is tied together handily and it all becomes apparent why certain things happened early on in the end!
Magical and filled to the brim with folklore, this first book in the Tristan Strong Series certainly packs a punch!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and FFBC blog tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
amygatzemeyer's review against another edition
3.0
I rate this 3 stars, but my 10-year-old son gives it 5+. Hebloved it and immediately started reading the sequel
chinarose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
permanme's review against another edition
Loving it -- the Percy Jackson-ish concept, the voice, the way elements of Afrian and African-American history, culture & myth are woven in. But it's WAY overdue. Hope to check back out & finish before too long.
tinynavajo's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a good book! I loved this! It was such a good book and it delved into a section of mythology/folklore that isn't written about a lot. African-American tales, like John Henry, Brer Rabbit, Anasansi, so many different people and I love it! I also love that the main character is a young black man who ends up using an ability that can be thought to be weak-minded, but it becomes his strength, along with his boxing ability that the men in his family teach and pass along to him. This is an excellent book, and I'm looking forward to seeing if we get more in this world.
sindri_inn_arsaeli's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful story! I was drawn to Tristan by how vulnerable he was right from the beginning. The book was fast paced, and the characters were well fleshed out. Miss Sarah and Miss Rose were a little overshadowed by all the other, more vocal characters, but never lost. I am excited to see what happens next in a sequel!
kaitsbooked's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
beefgameplays's review against another edition
3.5
I've never read a protagonist like Tristan, and it was an absolute delight. He is so compelling and I feel for him so deeply. Unfortunately, it feels like he's the only thing in this story besides the plotline that truly got developed. The world-building could have been much stronger, and some of the side characters were given nothing to stand on. Ayanna in particular is remarkably flat for how important she is supposed to be, but I am willing to look past it since this book is the first in a series. And the plot rally was brilliant with a twist I should have seen coming, and I'm excited for what the next books will bring.